If you've not yet checked out the fest, I invite you to read more about it! I can't wait to receive my assignment, so I've written a ficlet dedicated to amorette and delphipsmith for modding the fest. Thank you, arynwy, for beta'ing. :D

Towards the Disputation of Territory: When it comes to Hermione, Severus and Crookshanks are of the same mind.

Severus awoke to a feeling of warmth and pressure upon his chest that bore no similarity to the feeling of Hermione's bosom, which did not, of course, come to multiple, pricking points.

"What?" he demanded, opening one eye to meet two—and the pale rays of a precipitate sun.

Carefully turning his head so as not to move his torso, Severus looked to Hermione's side of the bed. She wasn't there. The fact that he hadn't known of her absence had to do with her installation of a dragon-size bed to prevent, as she called them, "territorial disputes."

"Hermione?" called Severus, as Crookshanks issued another, more forceful, Mrr. "Why have you abandoned me to this hostile pile of fur?"

Mrifff! spat Crookshanks, as he lashed his tail back and forth over the coverlet.

Severus listened to the whispery sound it made for a moment, trying to recall what might have got Hermione up so ridiculously early. . . and then he heard another sound, that of laughter, that of two people laughing.

"Is there a man here?"

Crookshanks' gaze seemed to indicate that he'd been pondering the same question.

"Well, don't just sit there, beast. Let me up!"

With one last, entirely unnecessary digging in of claws, Crookshanks flicked his tail and leapt off the bed. Severus followed him, Summoning his wand and spelling himself dressed as the laughter emanating from the sitting room grew louder. Severus peered into the room.